GENERAL INFORMATION AND FORMAT

FOR SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

BIOMEDICAL DEVICE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY BHAVAN, NEW MEHRAULI ROAD,

NEW DELHI – 110 016

GENERAL INFORMATION

Department of Science and Technology has initiated a programme on Biomedical
Device and Technology Development (BDTD) during 2016. Department was earlier supporting development of instruments for Medical and Healthcare applications through
Instrumentation Development Programme. BDTD has been evolved considering the
concern of medical device industry for R&D to develop new innovative products as per
global standards. The mandate of BDTD is to evolve and support projects for design & development of devices for:

a)  Early-Stage Prototype Development: (The integration and testing of basic components in a laboratory environment)

b)  Late-Stage Prototype Development (Fabrication of compact prototype for testing and validation)

c)  Pilot Scale Testing and validation: (Upon completion of the technology’s design, fabrication final testing with limited number of prototypes) with mandatory (manufacturer) industry participation.

The focus of DST- BDTD will be on development of devices and related
technologies. The targeted categories include screening, diagnostic, surgical and life
support equipments for clinical applications in healthcare sector.

WHO CAN SUBMIT PROJECT PROPOSALS

The Project Proposal could be submitted for financial support by scientist/ engineers/ technologists working in Universities and other academic institutions; R&D institutions/ laboratories having adequate infrastructure and facilities to carry out R&D work.

Financial support is provided only for temporary staff salaries, equipment, consumables, domestic travel and other miscellaneous items. No support is provided towards basic infrastructure and building and International travel.

The investigators/ R&D Group should have adequate experience and expertise in the relevant area of proposal. A Clinician should be involved with investigating team as Co-PI.

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

Three (3) hard copies of the project proposal and a soft copy should be submitted in the enclosed format. Please ensure that following documents have been completed and attached in original with one copy of the proposal.

  1. Certificate from the investigator (given on page 1 of the format); and
  2. Endorsement from Head of the institution on Letter Head (given on page 2 of the enclosed format).

These documents may not be attached with other 3 copies of the project proposal. Application received without above documents/with incomplete information will not be entertained.

The project proposal may be sent to :

The Adviser & Head

Technology Development and Transfer Division

Department of Science & Technology

Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road

NEW DELHI – 110016

POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE SUBMITTING PROJECT PROPOSALS

1.  Involvements of clinician and industries

The mandatory participation of clinician as a Co-PI in required to understand the users perspective.

It is envisaged that the end product of development shall be transferred to industries for commercial production. Hence it is desirable that industry (s) may be associated with project right from the beginning with defined participation in technical terms.

As far as possible the proposed device should have sufficient users in the country and there should be adequate demand for the product.

2.  Project Duration

The projects should be time-bound normally for duration of 2-3 years depending upon the device/technologies to be developed.

3.  Monitoring of the Project

Implementation of the projects is monitored regularly through Progress Reports, Financial Statements and Committee of Experts in Group review meetings and onsite as well.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE GRANT

1.  The Institution where project will be implemented, will assume financial and other administrative responsibilities of the project.

2.  In case of multi-institutional project the Principal Investigator has to obtain formal agreement from the collaborating institutions/scientists.

3.  International travel is normally not permissible under the project.

4.  The manpower recruited for the project should be paid as per the rules of the institute and guidelines of the Government of India. The posts which are not covered under the guidelines but permissible under projects at host institute are also permitted.

The temporary staff employed for the project by the organization is not treated as employees of Government of India and the deployment of such staff at the time of termination of the project will not be the concern / responsibility of the Government of India.

5.  It is the policy of DST to maximize the use of equipment. In this light, investigator shall permit the use of spare or idle capacities of equipment procured under the project by bona fide users (research workers in other DST funded projects or other projects of the institute).

6.  All the assets including equipment acquired and prototypes fabricated from the grant will be the property of Government of India and should not be disposed of, or utilized for purposes other than those for which the grant has been sanctioned, without the prior sanction of the Department of Science & Technology,.

7.  The Principal Investigator/ organization will be required to furnish progress reports every six months on the progress made on all aspect of the project including expenditure incurred on various approved items during the period.

8.  The Comptroller and Auditor General will have the right to access to the books and accounts of the organization for Grants received from the Government.

9.  The organization would maintain separate account for the project. The grant should be kept in an interest earning bank account and the interest earned should be reported to the Department of Science & Technology. The interest thus earned will be treated as a credit to the organization and will be adjusted towards further installments of the Grant.

10.  Grant can be terminated by DST at any stage if it is convinced that the Grant has not been properly utilized or appropriate progress is not being made.

11.  If the Principal Investigator wishes to leave the organization where the project is based, the organization/investigator will inform the same to DST and with its consultation evolve steps to ensure successful completion of the project, before relieving the Principal Investigator. The Investigator should submit three copies of complete and detailed report of the work done by them on the project before leaving the organization.

12.  Sale proceeds, if any, of the components, prototypes, pilot plants etc. fabricated as a result of the development of the project arising directly from funds granted by the Department of Science & Technology shall be remitted to the Government of India. The Government of India, may, at its discretion allow a portion of such receipt to be retained by the organization.

13.  The know-how generated from the project would be the property of the Government of India and any receipts by way of sale of know-how, utilization of know-how for production, royalties etc. shall belong to the Government of India. The Government of India, may, at its discretion, allow a portion of such receipts to be retained by the organization.

14.  The Principal Investigator / organization will prepare all the documents that would be required for the transfer of know-how to the production agency/agencies and submit them of DST as and when required. The organization will be responsible to transfer the know-how developed to the production agency/ agencies and supply all the needed information to the production agency/ agencies as and when required.

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

POLICY ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST

FOR REVIEWER & COMMITTEE MEMBER or APPLICANT or DST OFFICER ASSOCIATED/ DEALING WITH THE SCHEME/ PROGRAM OF DST

Issues of Conflicts of Interest and ethics in scientific research and research management have assumed greater prominence, given the larger share of Government funding in the country's R & D scenario. The following policy pertaining to general aspects of Conflicts of Interest and code of ethics, are objective measures that is intended to protect the integrity of the decision making processes and minimize biasness. The policy aims to sustain transparency, increase accountability in funding mechanisms and provide assurance to the general public that processes followed in award of grants are fair and non-discriminatory. The Policy aims to avoid all forms of bias by following a system that is fair, transparent and free from all influence/ unprejudiced dealings, prior to, during and subsequent to the currency of the programme to be entered into with a view to enable public to abstain from bribing or any corrupt practice in order to secure the award by providing assurance to them that their competitors will also refrain from bribing and other corrupt practice and the decision makers will commit to prevent corruption, in any form, by their officials by following transparent procedures. This will also ensure a global acceptance of the decision making process adopted by DST.

Definition of Conflict of Interest:

Conflict of Interest means "any interest which could significantly prejudice an individual's objectivity in the decision making process, thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage for the individual or to the organization which he/she represents". The Conflict of Interest also encompasses situations where an individual, in contravention to the accepted norms and ethics, could exploit his/her obligatory duties for personal benefits.

1.  Coverage of the Policy:

a)  The provisions of the policy shall be followed by persons applying for and receiving funding from DST, Reviewers of the proposal and Members of Expert Committees and Programme Advisory Committees. The provisions of the policy will also be applicable on all individuals including Officers of DST connected directly or indirectly or through intermediaries and Committees involved in evaluation of proposals and subsequent decision making process.

b)  This policy aims to minimize aspects that may constitute actual Conflict of Interests, apparent Conflict of Interests and potential Conflict of Interests in the funding mechanisms that are presently being operated by DST. The policy also aims to cover, although not limited to, Conflict of interests that are Financial (gains from the outcomes of the proposal or award), Personal (association of relative / Family members) and Institutional (Colleagues, Collaborators, Employer, persons associated in a professional career of an individual such as Ph.D. supervisor etc.)

2.  Specifications as to what constitutes Conflict of Interest.

Any of the following specifications (non-exhaustive list) imply Conflict of Interest if,

(i)  Due to any reason by which the Reviewer/Committee Member cannot deliver fair and objective assessment of the proposal.

(ii)  The applicant is a directly relative# or family member (including but not limited to spouse, child, sibling, parent) or personal friend of the individual involved in the decision making process or alternatively, if any relative of an Officer directly involved in any decision making process / has influenced interest/ stake in the applicant’s form etc..

(iii)  The applicant for the grant/award is an employee or employer of an individual involved in the process as a Reviewer or Committee Member; or if the applicant to the grant/award has had an employer-employee relationship in the past three years with that individual.

(iv)  The applicant to the grant/award belongs to the same Department as that of the Reviewer/Committee Member.

(v)  The Reviewer/Committee Member is a Head of an Organization from where the applicant is employed.

(vi)  The Reviewer /Committee Member is or was, associated in the professional career of the applicant (such as Ph.D. supervisor, Mentor, present Collaborator etc.)

(vii)  The Reviewer/Committee Member is involved in the preparation of the research proposal submitted by the applicant.

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(viii)  The applicant has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Member in the last three years.

(ix)  The applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member, in contravention to the accepted norms and ethics followed in scientific research has a direct/indirect financial interest in the outcomes of the proposal.

(x)  The Reviewer/Committee Member stands to gain personally should the submitted proposal be accepted or rejected.

# The Term “Relative” for this purpose would be referred in section 6 of Companies Act , 1956.

3.  Regulation:

The DST shall strive to avoid conflict of interest in its funding mechanisms to the maximum extent possible. Self-regulatory mode is however recommended for stake holders involved in scientific research and research management, on issues pertaining to Conflict of Interest and scientific ethics. Any disclosure pertaining to the same must be made voluntarily by the applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member.

4.  Confidentiality:

The Reviewers and the Members of the Committee shall safeguard the confidentiality of all discussions and decisions taken during the process and shall refrain from discussing the same with any applicant or a third party, unless the Committee recommends otherwise and records for doing so.

5.  Code of Conduct

5.1 To be followed by Reviewers/Committee Members:

(a)  All reviewers shall submit a conflict of interest statement, declaring the presence or absence of any form of conflict of interest.

(b)  The reviewers shall refrain from evaluating the proposals if the conflict of interest is established or if it is apparent.

(c)  All discussions and decisions pertaining to conflict of interest shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

(d)  The Chairman of the Committee shall decide on all aspects pertaining to conflict of interests.

(e)  The Chairman of the Committee shall request that all members disclose if they have any conflict of interest in the items of the agenda scheduled for discussion.

(f)  The Committee Members shall refrain from participating in the decision making process and leave the room with respect to the specific item where the conflict of interest is established or is apparent.

(g)  If the Chairman himself/herself has conflict of interest, the Committee may choose a Chairman from among the remaining members, and the decision shall be made in consultation with Member Secretary of the Committee.

(h)  It is expected that a Committee member including the Chair-person will not seek funding from a Committee in which he/she is a member. If any member applies for grant, such proposals will be evaluated separately outside the Committee in which he/she is a member.

5.2 To be followed by the Applicant to the Grant/Award:

(a)  The applicant must refrain from suggesting referees with potential Conflict of Interest that may arise due to the factors mentioned in the specifications described above in Point No. 2.